That Crazy Thing Called Love

Homecoming Eve

The next week couldn't have gone any slower. I went with my best friend Chloe to get a homecoming dress and picked out a tie with the same color for Riker. We went with sea blue.
Riker had met my dad and other brothers. Dad approved. Everything was smooth sailing. The day before the dance, Riker took me on a special "lunch date" to the park.
"Ya know, you didn't have to do this. You don't have to do any of this." I said looking at the extravagant picnic that had been placed before me.
"Think of it as a one week celebratory thingy!" Riker said giggling.
"Ok!" I said, taking a bite of the sandwich his mom had clearly made.
"So. Are you ready for the dance tomorrow night?" He asked me, taking a drink of tea.
"Um yeah I just I have one concern." I said trying not to make eye contact.
"And what would that be my love?" He said sweetly.
"I'm worried that we won't be able to be "normal" because enough of my friends know who you are and I'm worried that they won't leave you alone." I said, out of breath.
"Well. I don't even know what to say to that. If they try to come between me and you, there will be hell to pay. You are they only girl I ever even want to LOOK at. You are my queen. I wouldn't let anyone taunt or be mean to you because of me. And what ever happens Spenser. I will always be right here by your side. I love you." Riker said with tears in his eyes.
"Riker I think that that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. God. I don't know what I would do without you!" I said kissing him softly on the cheek.
"I know what I would do without you." Riker said looking down.
"What?" I said surprised at his comment.
"I wouldn't be living." Riker said choking up.

We packed up our things and headed back to school to finish the 6 hours of crap. We had to help set up for the dance and then we had to finish up homework. Riker came over to work on it with me.
"Hey mom Riker and I are just gonna go down stairs to the game room and do homework." I said walking in the door with Riker right behind me.
"Ok sweetie! I'm making lasagna for supper! How does that sound?" Mom asked, her question aimed at Riker.
"That sounds great, Traci! Thanks so much for everything you have done for me this last week. It really means a lot." Riker said.
"Any time!" Mom said starting to boil the noodles.
"Are you coming down here or nah?" I said, laughing and yelling at the same time from the bottom of the stairs.
"Yes my love I am! Do you want a bottle of water while I'm up here?!" Riker yelled back.
"Sure!" Once again yelling from downstairs.
"So, what is the answer to number 14?" Riker asked staring at my math book that we were sharing.
"Um I think it's -87 but cha might check my work." I said smiling at Riker in his blue beanie and glasses.
"Ok I will." Riker said writing the problem down on his scratch paper.
The whole time he was solving that problem, I stared at him. I stared at his face, the way he wrinkled his eyebrows when he didn't understand what he did wrong. I stared at his mouth, the way he held it open while he wrote the complex numbers down. I stared at his everything, only because I knew that I had enough time. That question was a hard one.
"Ok I got it!" He said braking my concentration on his perfect body. "And you were right. It was -87." Riker said. "And were you staring at me?" Riker asked.
"Maybe..." I said laughing.
"That's ok. I stare at you all the time." Riker said, looking into my eyes.
I blushed.
"Time to eat!" My mom screamed from the top of the stairs.
"Let's go babe! I bet it tastes amazing!!!" Riker said gently touching my lips with his.
"I bet it does." I smiled back.